-The Telegraph   The European Union has banned the import of Indian mangoes as they failed to pass its stringent biosecurity regulations. Does India too need tougher biosecurity laws to protect its crops from pests and diseases? When a few pesky fruit flies tried to migrate from India, they ended up sparking a debate on the effectiveness of India's agricultural biosecurity laws and regulations. While some agriculture experts believe the laws are...

-The Hindu   MGNREGS workers to be roped in for planting mangroves Malappuram (Kerala): The district administration and the civic authorities here seem to have woken up to the realization of conserving mangroves. Beginning this Thursday, which will mark the World Environment Day celebrations, mangroves in some coastal panchayats of Tirur block will be protected and conserved with the help of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers. MGNREGS workers will celebrate...

-The Hindu   450 families at the mercy of private tankers heave a sigh of relief RAMANATHAPURAM (Tamil Nadu): Commissioning of a desalination plant has not only eased drinking water scarcity but also enhanced its quality to the people of Mullimunai, a coastal village. As the village could not benefit from the Cauvery Combined Drinking Water Supply Scheme, about 450 families were left at the mercy of private tankers, who sold water at the...

-The Hindu   Nabard's low-key financing scheme helps farmers reap a rich harvest Puducherry: A low-key financing scheme with a few innovations thrown in is driving big changes in the lives of several rural dairy farmers. One of the beneficiaries, Poongudi from Andayarpalayam, Thirubuvanai, is a happy woman. Her milch cows are healthier and milk production has improved in quantity and quality. "The cows do not fall ill often now. I have 10 cows and the...

-The Telegraph   June 23, 2013: Ranchi is honoured at the e-India Governance Summit in Hyderabad for best use of information and communication technology in rural development June 2, 2014: The capital district is grappling with a backlog of more than 4,500 applications for online services such as issuing of birth, death and caste certificates The abysmal sign of regression has taken Ranchi district authorities, hitherto engrossed with one of the country's most historic...